Sitting next to a crackling hickory fire outside Saugatuck’s new fried chicken-and-barbecue joint The Southerner, chef Matthew Millar reflected on this moment in his career, which finds him going back to his roots. “I’m a blue-collar guy,” Millar said. “I never wanted to be an artist. I always wanted to be somebody who just did something well.”

We scoured West Michigan in search of sweet treats. Here's where to go for donuts, pastries, cupcakes, tarts and more to satisfy your sweet tooth. Make sure to drool-proof your keyboards before reading.

The Grand Rapids foodie scene perked up with the announcement of the impending expansion of the Social Kitchen & Bar, a Birmingham, Mich. fixture. The new addition arrives at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, 435 Ionia Ave. SW, later this year — hopefully in September.

When San Chez opened its doors 23 years ago the Heartside District was not exactly a thriving hub for grub. “In 1992 the Heartside District was very rundown, there were empty buildings,” said San Chez owner Cindy Schneider. “There were not many people moving around downtown. It’s definitely much better now.”

To the uninitiated, raw fish, rice and seaweed may not seem like the most appetizing building blocks for dinner. But when placed in the hands of an accomplished sushi chef, something magical happens. The ingredients mix into an alchemic blend of gustatory bliss. While there’s certainly no shortage of quality sushi in West Michigan, the following restaurants are must-tries for newcomers and sushi snobs alike.

If you’re looking to prepare a worldly dish without the hassle of leaving West Michigan, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here’s a shortlist of places to score everything from authentic Mediterranean to some legit kielbasa sausage.

By now you’ve heard of all the delicious, albeit common, things to eat around West Michigan. But for the intrepid eaters out there, it’s time to get weird. Revue has compiled a list of the stranger bites around West Michigan.

West Michigan is known for craft breweries, but we also have a growing craft distillery scene. In the spirit of St. Patrick, we focused on craft whiskeys this month. Get the low-down on where to get your hands on the wares of local distilleries as well as where you can find a drink list with more than 250 whiskeys.